- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Port Adelaide have defeated a surprisingly gallant Carlton outfit by 21 points in a fine game at the MCG, but the result will leave a lot more questions than answers.
The first quarter started well enough for the Blues, with the prodigiously talented Charlie Curnow sending through their first within minutes.
They were seemingly reinvigorated after a string of losses, and were playing very well – with vigour, intensity and determination.
Port struck back with three goals of their own, but a trio of goals to Charlie Curnow, and majors to the skipper in Marc Murphy and Patrick Cripps, meant the Blues had a surprise six-point lead as we went to the first break. They looked… surprisingly lively.
The second quarter, as most sensible pundits might’ve expected, saw Port surge back into the clash. They were hampered at first by the strong Carlton squad, but a strange touched goal for the Blues – by one of their own! – appeared to turn the momentum in Port’s direction.
They slammed home five straight, and the Carlton side began to look a little disillusioned. The found a little inspiration, though, with a late Jarrod Pickett goal.
As the third quarter began, it was evident that the Blues found a fair bit of inspiration. They dominated the quarter, in a way I haven’t seen them perform in a long while.
They kept Port Adelaide scoreless in the ‘premiership quarter’ and reversed a impactful deficit in contested possessions, perhaps evident of their vigour through the term.
It’s a pity they were frustrated by a little inaccuracy and another controversial disallowed goal, but they were within two points at the final change.
It was either going to be an upset of mammoth proportions, or a gallant loss. It was the latter. They collapsed, a little, in the final term, with Port taking charge of the game, and running out 21 point winners after a five-goals-to-one in the final quarter.
Port, though, would be happy with the win – but frustrated by how much they were lacking at some points.
It’s almost fitting Kade Simpson produced a fantastic game – 37 touches and saves a plenty in the backline.
Ed Curnow, Cripps and skipper Murphy were also fine, whilst Charlie Curnow slotted four majors.
Port’s Tom Rockliff and Chad Wingard accumulated plenty of the footy, while Robbie Gray slammed home a trio of goals, Justin Westhoff showed plenty and Charlie Dixon and Lindsay Thomas were fine the forward line.
Carlton 10.9 (69)
Port Adelaide 13.12 (90)
Who’s in your ultimate team? Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. For the best odds on the game try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit.